@article{ref1,
title="Institutional responses to self-injurious behavior among inmates",
journal="Journal of correctional health care",
year="2009",
author="Dehart, Dana D. and Smith, H. P. R. and Kaminski, Robert J.",
volume="15",
number="2",
pages="129-141",
abstract="To date, little research has systematically investigated perceptions of mental health professionals regarding motivations for self-injury among prison inmates. To help fill this gap, the authors used descriptive techniques to examine self-injurious behavior among inmates from the perspective of correctional mental health professionals. A quantitative survey assessed perceptions of mental health staff regarding etiology, motivations, and manifestations of self-injury. A qualitative interview component was used to explicate responses from the survey. Inmate cutting, scratching, opening old wounds, and inserting objects were the most commonly witnessed behaviors. Findings suggest that self-injury occurred regularly and that a subset of inmates are responsible for recurrent events. Mental health professionals perceived the motivation for inmate self-injury to be both manipulative and a coping mechanism. They described current management strategies and corresponding needs for training and resources.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1078-3458",
doi="10.1177/1078345809331444",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1078345809331444"
}